Connecticut western news., 1887-03-09

selling building lots, orange groves, etc. The house is pleasantly situated, on high, sandy land, surrounded by beauti- full lakes and orange groves, some of the finest in Orange county. You may wonder why We did not remain longer in that beautiful place. Well, in the first place. We sadly missed Landlord Washburne's well-filled tables, with its luxurious dishes prepared by his north ern cook. Secondly. friendly, too much so, colony of red ants. including their other half (the uncles) made their appearance and treated us with all the cordiality possible. in fact they became so attached to us they insisted on get ting into our trunk to inspect our cloth ing. We gave them liberal doses of Persian insect powder, camphor, etc., re-packed our trunk, bid Landlord Persons and his guests good bye and returned to Palatka. on first train Tues day morning Or afternoon, most forgot which, was so pleased to get back here once more.
 I must not forget to tell you of my visit to the Orange County fair at Orlando, six miles south of Maitland. four miles south of Winter Park. I purchased an excursion ticket, for which I paid 65 cents, this included admission to the fair grounds, which was 50 cents, leaving the railroad fare 15 cents, round trip, the cheapest of anything yet found in Florida. We'll, my first business on entering the enclosure was to make my way through the dense crowd, to three buildings made of rough, pine boards, something in the shape of Barnum Richardson Co.'S. coal houses, but one glance inside and all the outside world was for time forgotten entirely. Such lucious oran- ges, mammoth cabbage heads, enor- nous turnips, beets, radishes, onions, (why they would just make our Canaan fish vendors eyes water) and then the magnificent boquets of roses, elegant silk quilts, bed spreads and fancy work, pictures in water colors, landscape painting, etc, while outside was found agricultural implements, fine carriages, business wagons, coops of fowls, dogs, (was almost tempted to inquire for an empty box of oranges to make two- story hen coop for my dog Ely J boxes of young alligators, snakes, and last, but not least, colored boys without number, summing themselves behind fence posts, blow handles and other "shade trees" About one o'clock feel ing rather tired and hungry, l made my way towards nice, cool-looking tent on which was printed in large letters Refreshments. by the Women's Chris tian Association" A very pleasant middle-aged lady met me at the entrance and asked what I would have to eat ? After eating good dinaer I found the rest of the entertainment was to be found at the race course, which encir- cled small lake, making the track | three-fourths of mile long. As l neared the enclosure a boat race was almost concluded {; saw them approach ing the opposite shore, in fact WAS just | in time to be too late. Not wishing to lose any more of the races l mounted the grand stand, where l had fine | view of the whole course, lake included. I took an upper seat, raised my umbrella and was ready for business From this place witnessed a genuine southern horse race, mule race, foo
 race, wrestling match, pulling the rope jumping over high rope, etc. I woulG have given Sl.0O to have had Miltol
 Roraback see the mule race-he would
 wake up out of a sound sleep to laugl
 over 1t. The last race was the boys
 white and black intermingled. On,
 dollar was offered for the boy reaching
 the judges stand first. You can gues
 there was some tall running. Lons
 legged Joe colored won the first prize
 His long heels almost touched the bacl
 of his head every jump. Then tn
 cheering, when it was known tha
 "velvet head" had earned-perhaps hi
 first dollar. His joy knew no bounds
 His comrades tlocked around him unti
 darkness almost spread her sable mantl
 over the space in front of the stand.
 The mist soon cleared away and
 found the time drawing near for me t
 take my departure. must take anothe stroll through the buildings first, the
 away for the station. On going throug the gate I noticed Excursion trai north leaves Orlando at 5 p. m." M watch says 5.10. Would the train leav | on time ? l said to myself, guess not
 unless there Is some mistake, (train here are almost invariably behind time , On reaching the depot "all was quie f on the Potomac" train gone. Wha shall I do? Next train leaves abou . midnight ; concluded to walk up, ha been resting two or three hours, fe
 like taking some exercise; 1t would b
 dark in an hour so pushed ahead { Q the rate of three miles an hour Tn | walk reminded me of the Irishman poetry,
 Them that's rich can ride in Chaises,
 Them that's poor be jabbers they can walk Also of the fact that one never mee a person going the same way he i After going about two miles I overtoo
 man and boy that were in the san :, boat as myself. You have no doul
 heard of the man who was diggin t potatoes by the side of the highws n-I oln